Colpoys Bay - Wiarton Ontario

Colpoys Bay is located on Georgian Bay, Ontario, Canada.  The Bay is named after Sir John Colpoy who was an Admiral in the British Navy during the early 1800s. With its limestone cliffs rising on either side of the bay, the Niagara Escarpment reveals itself. 

 

Colpoys Bay - Looking North

Niagara Escarpment Limestone Cliffs

 

 The remarkably clear blue waters of Georgian Bay are among the clearest in the Great Lakes with visibility reaching up to 20 meters. There are three islands at the entrance to Colpoys Bay – Griffith Island, Hay Island and Whitecloud Island.

Sailing to Whitecloud Island

Griffith Island is home to Griffiths Island Lighthouse. It is one of six Imperial Towers that were constructed around 1959. Commissioned in 1855 by the Board of Works who contracted a builder from Thorold, Ontario, this plan was to have eleven lighthouses and dwellings which would see the lighting of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay for shipping. 

White Cloud is larger than nearby Griffith Island, and has a well-protected harbour in Kidd Bay. Anchorage in the bay is popular with local sailors. Land on the island is privately owned, mostly wooded.

Super clear water in Colpoys Bay

Colpoys Bay with Whitecloud and Griffith Islands in distance

 

Limestone beach

 

Divers getting ready for some time under the waves

 

Chicory (Cichorium intybus)

Salmon Fishing - during the Salmon Derby

 

For hikers, the  Bruce Trail runs right through this area on its way north to Tobermory or south to Owen Sound. 

There are several Bruce County Conservation Areas that are located close by.  On our trip, we visited Colpoys Lookout Conservation Area and the Bruce’s Caves Conservation Area. I highly recommend checking this area out.

Check out these other sites for more information:

http://www.explorethebruce.com/hiking.php

http://www.thebrucepeninsula.com/wiarton/

http://www.greysauble.on.ca/ca_lands/brucecaves.html

Colpoys Lookout Conservation Area   -  UTM  17N  498292 E  4960802 N

Bruce’s Caves Conservation Area   -  UTM  17N  494064 E  4957404 N